ITV

Category: Hindi

  • UTV recovers cost before Goal release

    MUMBAI: UTV Motion Pictures claims to have got close to Rs 160 million by selling a bunch of rights for its soon-to-be released Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal.


    “We have recovered our cost of production even before Goal‘s worldwide theatrical release on 23 November. We have sold different rights and the revenue from the home video segment is based on projections. Bindass is our brand partner,” says UTV EVP marketing, distribution and syndication Siddharth Roy Kapur.


    The cost recovery comes from syndication of satellite and music rights, territory pre-sales, home video, in-film advertising with brands like Reebok, Western Union and Gillete.


    The music rights have been sold to T-Series. “We can‘t disclose whom we have sold the other rights to,” says Kapur.


    So were the satellite telecast rights sold to Bindass? “We can‘t say anything at this stage,” says Kapur.


    UTV has a joint venture with Malaysia‘s Astro for Bindass.


    To promote the film, the star cast of Goal have appeared in reality talent shows like Nach Baliye3, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 2, Voice of India and Indian Idol 3.


    As promotional campaign, Reebok, which sponsored the clothing line in the film, will retail the ‘Goal‘ range across 535 outlets in India. There will also be co-branded window-displays in Reebok showrooms promoting the ‘Goal‘ collection, which includes apparel and accessories related to football that figure in the movie.


    UTV has also licensed the gaming rights for the film to Indiagames, which has tied up with FIFA to launch the Goal-FIFA challenge on the games-on-demand platform. UTV holds majority stake in Indiagames.


    ESPN Star Sports will integrate the catch-line of ‘Goal – Duniya Goal Hai‘ to promote English Premier League matches to be telecast on ESPN in the month of November.


    John Abraham and Bipasha Basu will promote the line on ESPN Star Sports through channel ID‘S all through November when the channel will run a contest to select five winners who get to watch an English Premier League match in the UK.


    UTV has tied up with Zee Sports to organise the ‘Goal Bus Tour‘ in Delhi. The entire Goal team comprising the lead actors and other players of Southall Team have visited malls, schools and colleges in Delhi and interacted with their fans.

  • Cinematographers to be honoured

    MUMBAI: Celebrating filmmaking and cinematographers for the very first time is an event slated for 21 November 2007.The event will honour cinematographers of the film industry namely Binod Pradhan, Kiran Deohans, Ravi K Chandran and V Manikandan. They will be felicitated at Mehboob Studios for their contribution to Indian Cinema.

    Having given us films like Rang de Basanti, Parinda, Aks, Jodhaa Akbar, Saawariyan, Dil Chahta Hai and Om Shanti Om, the DoPs will take the stage to be honoured by the industry. Directors like Farhan Akhtar, Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, Ashutosh Gowarikar amongst others will be present to support their cinematographers.


    The cinematographer is probably the most important creative and technical presence on the set. From days gone by when the director had to rely not on a TV monitor, but rather the cinematographer’s eye to confirm the shot, to today when technology has transformed the art form, cinematographers are the ones that give vision to the ideas of the director.


    The event is being presented by Pixion and Flying Unicorn Entertainment. The event TV partner is ZOOM TV and creative consultant is ESOTERAC.


    ‘The Cinematographers Cut’ is the second in a series of events under the umbrella brand ‘Pixion Presents CinemArt’ which aims to celebrate the individual behind the scenes of the filmy world. These events are designed to celebrate the director, the cinematographer, the special effects and editing professionals, etc. The first edition, ‘Directors Cut’, a night to exclusively celebrate and honour the directors of the industry, was held in June 2007.

  • Rajkumar Hirani wins Award for Entertainment

    MUMBAI: At the 7th Annual Teacher’s Achievement Awards, Bollywood director Raj Kumar Hirani won the achievement award in the Entertainment category.


    Mahesh Dattani received the award in the communication category for theatre. The achievement award in the Business category was bagged by Chanda Kochar of ICICI Bank. Manavjit Singh Sandhu won the award in the Sports category and K V Kamath was honoured with the lifetime achievement award.


    The ceremony was held at the Taj Land’s End in Mumbai and was attended by film, corporate, sports and communication personalities.




    On receiving the award Hirani said, “Thank you Teachers and the jury for scaring me. All the work I’m going to do now has to live up to the expectation of Munnabhai. I accept in all humility this award.”



    Kochar said, “It is an honor to achieve the award. Normally award categories for Businessmen and women are separate. Those days are fast changing; we should now select a Business Leader just the way Teacher’s has done.”



    “We Sportsmen don’t usually get to rest our laurels a lot as our coaches constantly push us back to our game. Thanks to Teacher’s I am going to rest on my laurels for at least tonight.” said Sandhu.



    Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Milkha Singh, Sabira Merchant, Atul Kasbekar, Prahlad Kakar, Harsh Mariwala, Subir Raha, SM Dutta, Anjali Bhagwat, Pooja Bedi, Piyush Mishra, Nadira Babbar, Naraini Shastri, Prasoon Joshi and Gaurav Chopra attended the function.



    Welcoming the guests, Rupert Patrick, Managing Director–Duty Free and Developing Market business, Beam Global Spirits & Wine said, “The Teacher’s Achievement Awards has consistently rewarded achievers over the years and motivated others towards excellence. At this 7th edition of the Teacher’s Achievement Awards, we are glad to recognize distinguished achievers from across fields.”



    Harish Moolchandani, CEO & Managing Director, India and Indian Sub Continent, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, India Business said, “Selecting a winner from amongst the nominees was a difficult task according to the jury, since each one is a winner in his/her right. We are confident that keeping the spirit of Teachers Achievement Awards, the winners shall continue to excel and inspire. The awards shall carry on with recognizing spirited performers and promoting excellence as a part of the endeavor.”



    The ceremony was hosted by actor Pooja Bedi. The event began with a dance performance by Nritarutya, a group of young dancers who were from disparate dance and martial art backgrounds which includes Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kathak, Contemporary Technique, Kalaripayattu and Taekwondo. The troupe showcased a brilliant performance inspired by power, drive and achievement that mesmerized and captivated the audience.



    The grand finale of the award ceremony was a musical tribute to some of the great musicians of the world by Niladari Kumar and his group. They paid homage to some of the famous and celebrated icons like Ustad Zakir Hussain, Guns N’ Roses, Jimmy Hendrix, Pandit Ravi Shankar, on the Zitar – an amalgamation of a sitar and a guitar.

  • And now some good news for Saawariya

    MUMBAI: In the free-for-all between the two giants, Om Shanti Om (OSO) and Saawariya, we do hope this is the last word. With reports coming in on the international success for Saawariya, both the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Sony Pictures will breathe a little easy.

    This is also good news for other Hollywood studios that are eyeing the lucrative Indian film market. Since Warner Brothers has already tied up with Ramesh Sippy for Made in China and Walt Disney with YRF for Roadside Romeo, the success of Saawariya, will send the right signals.


    According to Vikramjit Roy, head of publicity and promotions, Sony Pictures‘ first Indian co-production Saawariya, which is a collaboration with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, bowed to Rs 500 million ($12.5 million) across 754 screens in India over the Diwali weekend 9-11 November. The week (9 to 15 November) closed at Rs 600 million.


    It hit 60% and now it is at 30%. We hear almost 850 prints were released in that opening weekend and almost 50 prints have been withdrawn. That means shows have been cancelled and replaced by more successful films.



    Saawariya, the first Bollywood production from any Hollywood studio, also hit screens in 12 other markets (across 230 screens) – UK, US, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Malaysia, Oman, Quatar, Bahrain, Singapore – bowing at $ 1.5 million.

    The film also released in Indonesia on 16 November.


    The worldwide tally, for the opening weekend (9-11 November) was therefore a whopping $ 14 million (Rs 560 mil), hardly a flop show by any terms of reference.


    The numbers do tell a tale though. It was clearly in the first three days when anticipation around the movie was at its peak that Saawariya raked in most of its moolah from the domestic market. A massive 83 per cent of the takings in fact.


    Going by the reports that are coming out, occupancy levels dropped from almost 90 per cent in that opening weekend to 30 per cent in the second week and have been steadily dropping since. Still, Sony Pictures can come away from this movie knowing that it did manage to make good its money.


    Commenting on this performance and the fact that Saawariya released on the same day as Om Shanti Om, SPE Films India MD Uday Singh said, “We are thrilled with the opening and the fact that audiences everywhere have connected with the film, especially the youth, who have loved the heartwarming performances by the two newcomers Ranbir and Sonam.


    “Sony Pictures congratulates Shah Rukh Khan and the entire Om Shanti Om team for setting the all-time record for a film during the Diwali box office weekend. It is truly an amazing accomplishment. But what is even more significant is that two major films competed against each other and both did enormously well. The marketplace can accommodate two major motion pictures and both can succeed. We could not be more pleased with the success of Saawariya and we are proud that we have played a role in setting the record for our industry during Diwali week.”


    Commenting on whether Sony Pictures is looking at more films in India Singh explains, “India has a rich and a prolific film history and we at Sony Pictures recognise the potential and importance of the Indian market. Tying up with a leading motion picture company in India like Eros for a six picture co-production deal shows our commitment to work with the creative talent in India.”


    And now all concerned are happily wiping the egg the media had initially hurled at them off their faces.


     

  • Mukta Arts inks 5-year distribution deal with Eros for Rs 730 million

    MUMBAI: Mukta Arts has inked a five-year distribution deal worth Rs 730 million with Eros Multimedia.


    As per the deal, Eros will distribute three films for Mukta Arts. This includes two Subhash Ghai directed films – Yuvraaj (starring Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Zayed Khan) and Black and White (starring Anil Kapoor). The third film Bombay to Bangkok (starring Shreyas Talpade) is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.


    The distribution agreement excludes music and India video rights for all the three films and satellite rights of Bombay to Bangkok.


    Earlier Red Carpet Films, where Mukta Arts has a majority holding, sealed a four-movie deal with Eros for a sum of around Rs 400 million. Under this agreement, Red Carpet would produce the films while Eros would fund and distribute them.

  • Box Office for the week that was

    MUMBAI: Om Shanti Om: It had a record breaking first week collection all over India. In all the 850+ screens the film did phenomenally well.


    Saawariya: Took a good initial and the first weekend collections were heart warming. But collections fell after Monday. Saawariya was released in around 650 screens.


    Jab We Met: Had a good initial but fell due to the onslaught of OSO and Saawariya. After the shows have been increased this week it could be back in action.


    No Smoking: Flopped


    Bhool Bhulaiya: Super hit

  • London-Mumbai Production Tournament Producers announced

    MUMBAI: Sixteen producers, from the UK and India, have made it through to the Film London ‘London-Mumbai Production Tournament’ which takes place on 18-20 November in Mumbai.

    The city is the hub of ‘Bollywood’ filmmaking and the event is an important part of Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone’s 7-day mayoral mission to encourage continued growth and collaboration between the London and India.


    The Tournament, funded by Film London, UK Trade and Investment, and the Mayor of London, was designed by Olsberg SPI and is a two-and-half-day residential workshop that aims to provide its participants with the skills and contacts necessary to participate in co-financing and co-production between the UK and India.

    But this is no traditional seminar situation – as well as project ‘surgeries’ and workshops, there are contests, quizzes and role-plays where producers will be teamed up to solve the sort of practical and business issues they may face whilst working across the two countries.






    The producers taking part are, from the UK: Beth Sanders, Crowfoot Films; Deep Sehgal, Avatar Productions; Hal Vogel, Daybreak Pictures; Mark Bentley, Oxford Film and Television Company; Meneka Das, Oceansonic; Nikki Parott, Tigerlily Films; Nisha Parti, Parti Productions; Sulekha Nath and from India: Anjali Bhushan Nugyal, Apricot Sky; Elvis D’Silva, Thrillpill Design; Madhu Mantena, devilEnt; Manu Rewal, Duniya Vision (India) Pvt. Ltd.; Neerrav Ghosh, Tangerine Digital Entertainment; Rajan Khosa, Elephant Eye Productions Pvt. Ltd.; Sanjeev Sivan, Sanjeev Sivan Entertainment; Mubina Rattonsey, Santosh Sivan Films.



    Advisors to the producers at the Tournament come from both countries. From the UK they are: Jeremy Gawade, Founder and Partner of Lee & Thompson Solicitors; James Shirras, Director of Legal and Business Affairs (Europe) For Film Finances; Chris Auty , Producer and Jane Wright, Commercial Affairs and General Manager of BBC Films. The advisors from India are: Parvinder Bhatia, Group COO, VTR plc/Prime Focus Group; Ashish Bhatnagar, iDream Production Ltd; Dina Dattani, Solicitor, Nishith Desai Associates; Sidhartha M. Jain, Producer.



    Adrian Wootton, CEO of Film London, said: ‘London and Mumbai are two great cities with a shared passion for filmmaking, but often with different approaches and working practices. The Production Tournament will allow the participants to foster positive relationships and create a better understanding of how the industry operates across the two countries. Film London is delighted to be initiating an event that offers so much promise for the future of UK and Indian film co-production.’



    Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, said:


    “Having recently returned from India I saw first hand how much our two countries have in common. Film making is one of those traditions which we share and we’re already seeing an increasing cross-over of talent between our two industries, both on screen and off. We have a great deal to offer each other, which is why I am delighted that we’re supporting this important mission.”



    Jonathan Olsberg, Chairman of Olsberg SPI, said: “This is an important time of opportunity for Indian and British producers to forge stronger relationships with each other. When we‘ve run this event between other countries in the past, it has led to new partnerships and creative collaborations. We are particularly excited to bring the Tournament to Mumbai at this exciting time for the international film industry.”

  • Indian Idol Abhijit Sawant turns actor

    MUMBAI: Indian idol Abhijeet Sawant has now switched professional gears.He is all set to act in the lead role in 3S Creations‘ LOTTERY, a romantic thriller being directed by television director Hemant Prabhu.

    The story is set to revolve around the tile ‘Lottery’. The music is being composed by Santokh Singh (Channa vey ghar aaja… fame), who also makes his debut in feature films.


    Talking about his new job the singer says, “ I attended an acting workshop to train myself for my new job. As for the songs I shall be singing all my songs in the film. And no, I am not at all nervous about my debut.”


    The film is scheduled for an April 2008 release.

  • NFDC plans script deveplopment workshop at IFFI

    MUMBAI: Alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) beginning on 23rd November, 2007, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) will be organizing the Film Bazaar from 24th to 26th November, 2007.


    The Film Bazaar is aimed at providing an interactive platform between prospective buyers and sellers of film rights from India and abroad. The international participants, among others, for the Film Bazaar are, Global Film Initiative, Back Up Films, Onoma International, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, Shanghai Film Group, China Film Co-production, Arclight Films Malaysian Broadcasting Corporation, Astra and Miriam Arab of Cannes Market. Sales agents and financiers including Fortissimo Films and Paris based Memento Films, and Germany’s Pandora are set to attend the three-day event.


    As part of the Film Bazaar, 15 pre-selected projects drawn from all over India will be presented to the participants. These projects are at different stages of Development.


    The NFDC is also organizing a Script Development Workshop, Screenwriters Bloc which is scheduled to begin in Goa on Sunday as a run up to the IFFI. The Workshop pairs six mentors with the writers of eight pre-selected screenplays. Danis Tanovic, Bernd Lichtenberg and Olivia Hetreed are among the high-profile writers who will mentor eight students.


    Tanovic wrote as well as directed No Man’s Land, while Lichtenberg’s credits as writer include Goodbye Lenin! And Hetreed scripted Girl With A Pearl Earring. The three European writers will join India’s Shaji Karun (Nishad), Anjum Rajabali (Legend of Bhagat Singh) and Ashwini Malik (Clever And Lonely) as mentors at the six-day workshop. In addition, writer-director Mani Ratnam (Guru) will participate as a guest mentor and hold a master class.


    Participating projects include English-language scripts such as Pubali Chaudhuri’s Happy Ever After, along with scripts in Hindi and other Indian languages.

  • Rani served notice in land deal

    MUMBAI: The Ahmednagar district collectorate has issued a notice to actor Rani Mukherji in the fake land deal case asking her to prove that she is a farmer.

    Way back in December 2005, Rani had bought a plot measuring 1,100 sq mt of land near Nimgaon Korhade in Shirdi town for which she had reportedly paid Rs 3.3 million.


    After the purchase, Rani is said to have paid a stamp duty of Rs 132000 for registration. But the ownership of the land could not be transferred on her name because it was government land that was leased out to a farmer. Now the deal has been cancelled by the district collector.

    The farmer in whose name the land has been leased to is willing to return the money to Rani.

    Legal notices have been issued to all concerned parties by the Ahmednagar collectorate. Rani has been asked to pay a fine as well as prove that she is a farmer since the land is an agricultural plot.